Search

ABSTRACT: Health tourism, which is a sub-field of tourism, has an important place in the development of countries and regions. It is the people living in that region who are most affected by the development of health tourism activities in a region. Perceptions and support of local people have important effects on the development and sustainability of health tourism in a destination. It should be ensured that the local people have positive perceptions about the effects of health tourism and support tourism development. In this study, the effect of four factors affecting health tourism on the support of local people to the development of health tourism was investigated. Study data were collected through face-to-face survey application to 392 participants residing in Akyazı. The research model and hypotheses developed in line with the purpose of the study were tested with the structural equation model using AMOS 4 and SPSS 22 package programs. As a result of the test, it was determined that the model had a good fit. It has been determined that the effect of socio-cultural and health-related factors on the total impact of health tourism development is significant. The total impacts, economic and health impact variables were all found to have a significant impact on the local community's support for health tourism development. ÖZ: Turizmin alt alanı olan sağlık turizmi ülkelerin ve bölgelerin kalkınmasında önemli bir yere sahiptir. Sağlık turizmi faaliyetlerinin bir yöredeki gelişiminden en fazla etkilenen o bölgede yaşayan halktır. Sağlık turizminin bir destinasyonda gelişimi ve sürdürülebilirliği üzerinde yerel halkın algıları ve desteği önemli etkiler yaratmaktadır. Sağlık turizminin etkilerine yönelik yerel halkın olumlu algılara sahip olması ve turizm gelişimini desteklemesi sağlanmalıdır. Bu çalışmada sağlık turizmini etkileyen dört faktörün sağlık turizminin yerel halkın sağlık turizminin gelişimine verdiği desteğe etkisi araştırılmıştır. Çalışma verileri Akyazı’da ikamet eden 392 katılımcıya yüz yüze anket uygulamasıyla toplanmıştır. Çalışmanın amacı doğrultusunda geliştirilen araştırma modeli ve hipotezler AMOS 4 ve SPSS 22 paket programları kullanılarak yapısal eşitlik modeli ile test edilmiştir. Test sonucunda modelin iyi bir uyuma sahip olduğu belirlenmiştir. Sosyo-kültürel ve sağlıkla ilgili faktörlerin sağlık turizmi gelişiminin toplam etkisi üzerindeki etkisinin anlamlı olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Toplam etkiler, ekonomik ve sağlık etkileri değişkenlerinin hepsinin yerel halkın sağlık turizminin gelişimine verdiği destek üzerinde önemli bir etkisi olduğu bulunmuştur.

Abstract Introduction Radiomics methods are used to analyze various medical images, including computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance, and positron emission tomography to provide information regarding the diagnosis, patient outcome, tumor phenotype, and the gene-protein signatures of various diseases. In low-risk group, complete surgical resection is typically sufficient, whereas in high-risk thymoma, adjuvant therapy is usually required. Therefore, it is important to distinguish between both. This study evaluated the CT radiomics features of thymomas to discriminate between low- and high-risk thymoma groups. Materials and methods In total, 83 patients with thymoma were included in this study between 2004 and 2019. We used the Radcloud platform (Huiying Medical Technology Co., Ltd.) to manage the imaging and clinical data and perform the radiomics statistical analysis. The training and validation datasets were separated by a random method with a ratio of 2:8 and 502 random seeds. The histopathological diagnosis was noted from the pathology report. Results Four machine-learning radiomics features were identified to differentiate a low-risk thymoma group from a high-risk thymoma group. The radiomics feature names were Energy, Zone Entropy, Long Run Low Gray Level Emphasis, and Large Dependence Low Gray Level Emphasis. Conclusions The results demonstrated that a machine-learning model and a multilayer perceptron classifier analysis can be used on CT images to predict low- and high-risk thymomas. This combination could be a useful preoperative method to determine the surgical approach for thymoma.

Academia is one of the main hubs for promoting gender equality and non-discrimination, yet very few programs in Romania actively tackle the topic. An assessment of students’ perceptions is thus necessary in order to identify the level of awareness around gender issues and potential barriers hindering an inclusive academic environment. The present exploratory study aims to fill this gap by providing information on four dimensions of gender equality: attitudes towards gender equality, prevalence of gender stereotypes, gender- based violence and sexual harassment, and gender-based discrimination. The questionnaire was applied online and offline between October 2018 and March 2019 to 275 students enrolled in Bachelor, Master and Doctoral studies at Babeș- Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca.The study found that students had a rather high awareness about gender issues in general and held favorable views towards gender equality and its enforcement. However, female students were more prone to stereotype, claiming more traits for themselves, and were more likely than their male counterparts to experience sexual harassment and discrimination regarding professional promotion. A series of implications for practitioners and recommendations are also discussed.

Abstract The homozygous LAMC3 gene mutation is associated with severe bilateral smoothening and thickening of the lateral occipital cortex . Despite this and further significant changes in gray matter structure, a patient harboring this mutation exhibited a range of remarkably intact perceptual abilities . One possible explanation of this perceptual sparing could be that the white matter structural integrity and functional connectivity in relevant pathways remained intact. To test this idea, we used diffusion tensor and functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate functional connectivity in resting‐state networks in major structural pathways involved in object perception and visual attention and corresponding microstructural integrity in a patient with homozygous LAMC3 mutation and sex, age, education, and socioeconomically matched healthy control group. White matter microstructural integrity results indicated widespread disruptions in both intra‐ and interhemispheric structural connections except inferior longitudinal fasciculus. With a few exceptions, the functional connectivity between the patient's adjacent gray matter regions of major white matter tracts of interest was conserved. In addition, functional localizers for face, object, and place areas showed similar results with a representative control, providing an explanation for the patient's intact face, place, and object recognition abilities. To generalize this finding, we also compared functional connectivity between early visual areas and face, place, and object category‐selective areas, and we found that the functional connectivity of the patient was not different from the control group. Overall, our results provided complementary information about the effects of LAMC3 gene mutation on the human brain including intact temporo‐occipital structural and functional connectivity that are compatible with preserved perceptual abilities.

Genelleştirilmiş Regresyon Yapay Sinir Ağı (GRYSA) radyal tabanlı çalışan ve genellikle tahminleyici olarak kullanılan denetimli-öğrenimli bir yapay sinir ağı (YSA) modelidir. Kolay modellenebilmesinin yanında hızlı ve tutarlı sonuçlar üretmesi bu algoritmanın güçlü yanlarını oluşturmaktadır. Ancak GRYSA tahmin mekanizmasında, eğitim veri setindeki her örnek veri için örüntü katmanında bir adet nöron tutulmaktadır. Bu nedenle, eğitim veri setinin çok büyük olduğu çalışmalarda örüntü katman yapısı örnek verilerinin sayısıyla aynı oranda büyümekte, yapılan işlem sayısı ve bellek gereksinimi artmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, GRYSA algoritmasının işlem sayısını azaltmaya yönelik olarak literatürde daha önce de denenmiş olan k-ortalama kümeleme algoritması ön-işlemci olarak kullanılmış, literatürdeki çalışmalardan farklı olarak, bu çalışmaların performansını negatif anlamda etkileyen kümeler arasına düşen test verileri bulunarak aykırı veri oluşmasının önüne geçilmiştir. Böylece, örüntü katmanındaki bellek ihtiyacı ve işlem sayısı azaltılırken, kümeleme algoritmasının eklenmesi ile performansta ortaya çıkan negatif etki büyük oranda giderilmiş ve yaklaşık %90 daha az eğitim verisi ile neredeyse aynı tahmin sonuçları elde edilmiştir.

Genelleştirilmiş Regresyon Yapay Sinir Ağı (GRYSA) radyal tabanlı çalışan ve genellikle tahminleyici olarak kullanılan denetimli-öğrenimli bir yapay sinir ağı (YSA) modelidir. Kolay modellenebilmesinin yanında hızlı ve tutarlı sonuçlar üretmesi bu algoritmanın güçlü yanlarını oluşturmaktadır. Ancak GRYSA tahmin mekanizmasında, eğitim veri setindeki her örnek veri için örüntü katmanında bir adet nöron tutulmaktadır. Bu nedenle, eğitim veri setinin çok büyük olduğu çalışmalarda örüntü katman yapısı örnek verilerinin sayısıyla aynı oranda büyümekte, yapılan işlem sayısı ve bellek gereksinimi artmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, GRYSA algoritmasının işlem sayısını azaltmaya yönelik olarak literatürde daha önce de denenmiş olan k-ortalama kümeleme algoritması ön-işlemci olarak kullanılmış, literatürdeki çalışmalardan farklı olarak, bu çalışmaların performansını negatif anlamda etkileyen kümeler arasına düşen test verileri bulunarak aykırı veri oluşmasının önüne geçilmiştir. Böylece, örüntü katmanındaki bellek ihtiyacı ve işlem sayısı azaltılırken, kümeleme algoritmasının eklenmesi ile performansta ortaya çıkan negatif etki büyük oranda giderilmiş ve yaklaşık %90 daha az eğitim verisi ile neredeyse aynı tahmin sonuçları elde edilmiştir.

Glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase(GFAT) is the rate-limiting enzyme of the hexosamine synthesis pathway. Products of this pathway have been implicated in insulin resistance and glucose toxicity. GFAT1 is ubiquitous, whereas GFAT2 is expressed mainly in the central nervous system. In the course of developing a competitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay, we noted that GFAT1 cDNA from muscle but not from other tissues migrated as a doublet. Subsequent cloning and sequencing revealed two GFAT1 mRNAs in both mouse and human skeletal muscles. The novel GFAT1 mRNA (GFAT1Alt [muscle selective variant of GFAT1]) is likely a splice variant. It is identical to GFAT1 except for a 48 or 54 bp insert in the mouse and human, respectively, at nucleotide position 686 of the coding sequence, resulting in a 16 or 18 amino acid insert at position 229 of the protein. GFAT1Alt is the predominant GFAT1 mRNA in mouse hindlimb muscle, is weakly expressed in the heart, and is undetectable in the brain, liver, kidney, lung, intestine, spleen, and 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In humans, it is strongly expressed in skeletal muscle but not in the brain. GFAT1 and GFAT1Alt expressed by recombinant adenovirus infection in COS-7 cells displayed robust enzyme activity and kinetic differences. The apparent K(m) of GFAT1Alt for fructose-6-phosphate was approximately twofold higher than that of GFAT1, whereas K(i) for UDP-N-acetylglucosamine was approximately fivefold lower. Muscle insulin resistance is a hallmark and predictor of type 2 diabetes. Variations in the expression of GFAT isoforms in muscle may contribute to predisposition to insulin resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tubular injury is the hallmark of acute kidney injury (AKI) with a tremendous impact on patients and health-care systems. During injury, any differentiated proximal tubular cell (PT) may transition into a specific injured phenotype, so-called "scattered tubular cell" (STC)-phenotype. To understand the fate of this specific phenotype, we generated transgenic mice allowing inducible, reversible, and irreversible tagging of these cells in a murine AKI model, the unilateral ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). For lineage tracing, we analyzed the kidneys using single-cell profiling during disease development at various time points. Labeled cells, which we defined by established endogenous markers, already appeared 8 h after injury and showed a distinct expression set of genes. We show that STCs re-differentiate back into fully differentiated PTs upon the resolution of the injury. In summary, we show the dynamics of the phenotypic transition of PTs during injury, revealing a reversible transcriptional program as an adaptive response during disease., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Acute Kidney injury is a major clinical problem associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Despite, intensive research the clinical outcome remains poor and apart from supportive therapy no other specific therapy exists. Single cell technologies have enabled us to get deeper insights into the transcriptome of individual cells in complex tissues like the kidney. With respect to kidney injury, this would allow us to better define the unique role of individual cell populations in the pathophysiology of acute kidney injury and progression to chronic kidney disease. In this mini review, we would like to give an overview and discuss the current major findings in the field of acute kidney injury through Single-Cell technologies., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Buse, Moeller and Stamellou.)

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, and is associated with a prior diagnosis of endometriosis in several cases. Our aim was to correlate genetic and methylation profile of ovarian endometrioid ovarian cancer and endometriosis patients. We evaluated the genetic profile of 50 ovarian endometriosis and 20 ovarian endometrioid carcinoma samples using next generation sequencing technology. In addition, the DNA methylation profile was evaluated for both cohorts of patients. We observed several mutated genes that were common for both types of patients, but we also identified mutated genes that were characteristic for each group: JAK3, KRAS and RB1 for endometriosis; and ATM, BRAF, CDH1, EGFR, NRAS, RET and SMO for ovarian endometrioid cancer. Also we idenfied genes that are highly methylated only in endometriosis samples ( PYCARD, RARB, RB1, IL2, CFTR, CD44 and CDH13) and MLH3 gene was methylated only in endometrioid ovarian carcinoma samples. Also, BRCA1, CADM1, PAX6 and PAH genes are mainly methylated in endometrioid ovarian carcinoma patients. We identified a correlation for the cancer group between tumor stage, copy number aberrations and the presence of metastases; more specifically, the presence of BRCA1 pathogenic variants was correlated with tumor differentiation degree, TP53 variants and copy number aberrations. This study was able to demonstrate the presence of similar pathways being altered in both endometriosis and ovarian endometrioid carcinoma, which could mean that a diagnosis of endometriosis could be an early marker for cancer diagnosis. In addition, we showed that GATA2 hypomethylation, ATM hypermethylation, CREM hypomethylation, higher tumor differentiation degree or higher tumor stage is associated with a poor prognosis in patients with ovarian endometrioid carcinoma., Competing Interests: None., (AJCR Copyright © 2021.)

Background: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous disease with aggressive behavior and an unfavorable prognosis rate. Due to the lack of surface receptors, TNBC must be intensely investigated in order to establish a suitable treatment for patients with this pathology. Chemoresistance is an important reason for therapeutic failure in TNBC., Method: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of doxorubicin in TNBC cell lines and to highlight cellular and molecular alterations after a long exposure to doxorubicin., Results: The results revealed that doxorubicin significantly increased the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) values at P12 and P24 compared to parenteral cells P0. Modifications in gene expression were investigated through microarray technique, and for detection of mutational pattern was used Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). 196 upregulated and 115 downregulated genes were observed as effect of multiple dose exposure, and 15 overexpressed genes were found to be involved in drug resistance. Also, the presence of some additional mutations in both cell lines was observed., Conclusion: The outcomes of this research may provide novel biomarkers for drug resistance in TNBC. Also, this activity can highlight the potential mechanisms associated with drug resistance, as well as the potential therapies to counteract these mechanisms.